Scripture: 2 Kings 19:1-19, Isaiah 37:1-20, 2 Chronicles 32:9-19, 2 Kings 19:20-37, Isaiah 37:21-38, 2 Chronicles 32:20-23
“They told him, ‘This is what King Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, insults, and disgrace. It is like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to deliver the baby." 2 Kings 19:3
The King of Assyria not only insulted King Hezekiah personally, but on more than one occasion tried to mess with his army’s psyche. Hezekiah’s strength had run out. Whooped and beaten, he didn’t have it in him to make it one more day. I’ve had those kind of days. How about you?
Hezekiah didn’t even have the might to visit Isaiah for counsel. The king’s officials went on his behalf to see the prophet and brought back hopeful words. Despite the encouragement, attacks still came. He received another letter from his enemy. More distress. More rebuke. More rejection.
When he could take it no longer, King Hezekiah used his last bit of strength to pick himself up and go to the Temple of the Lord. There, he spread the distressing letter out before the Lord. I love the visual of Hezekiah, the powerful king of Israel, humbly and feebly showing his troubles to the Lord God.
Like Hezekiah, I often seek counsel from a trusted friend before taking my concerns to the Lord. Perhaps deep down I feel I need someone with skin who can help me audibly process my problems. Eventually I end up where I should have started, face down before the Lord.
Let’s be challenged to spread our troubles out before the Lord first and maybe even repeat Hezekiah’s words: “O LORD, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O LORD, and listen! Open your eyes, O LORD, and see!” 2 Kings 19:15-16a
